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Z*NET Online Magazine Issue 524
////// // // ////// ////// Z*Net Atari Online Magazine
// / /// // // // June 15, 1990
// /// // // // ////// // ---------------------------
// / // /// // // Published and Edited by
////// // // /////// // Ron Kovacs
Issue #524
(½) 1990 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
Post Office Box 59
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
Z*Net Online BBS: (201) 968-8148
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CompuServe 71777,2140 * Cleveland Free-Net * GEnie Z-NET
=======================================================================
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THIS WEEK - by Ron Kovacs
===============================
I want to thank everyone for the cards and messages sent on behalf of
the recent family loss. The many comments were appreciated and passed
along to family members. Thanks again.
We are running a special ad in our monthly hard copy newsletter from
Practical Solutions, which we are sure you might be interested in. For
a limited time, you can purchase a TWEETY BOARD for $29.95 by mentioning
Z*NET when you place your order. The regular sale price is $59.95.
Shipping and handling charges are NOT included in this Z*Net Summer
Special price. If you are interested in ordering or more information
please call: (602) 322-6100.
Too late for publication this week was a capture from our newest
registered BBS system, (one that carries Z*NET each week), The Full Moon
BBS is available for all modem speeds at (508) 752-1348. Look for a
capture of the system next week. If you are carrying Z*Net on your BBS
and would like to see your system here, please call the Z*Net BBS at
(201) 968-8148 and leave a message to the SysOp.
Thanks for reading!
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Z*NET NEWSWIRE
===============================
ATARI NOT TO APPEAR AT WORLD OF ATARI
World of Atari show promoter Richard Tsukiji was notified this week that
Atari has decided NOT to support, participate, or even to send a
representative to appear at the recently proposed August San Jose WOA.
While Atari clearly stated that they were very much interested in
supporting a WOA show in the San Jose/San Francisco area, they declined
this opportunity due to prior commitments that will consume the
available personnel and hardware resources. These include a major Atari
appearance at a gaming convention on the weekend immediately following
Tsukiji's show dates, as well as firm commitments to fully support the
Glendale Southern California Atari Computer Faire, one month later and
just down the coast. Atari encouraged Tsukiji to help avoid conflicting
event dates by refraining from scheduling any shows within 30 days of
another show, and to provide at least 120 days notice to Atari of
proposed show dates to allow for rescheduling if required. Tsukiji had
earlier stated that he would continue with his plans for the August show
date even without Atari's help, but it is possible that he may
reconsider now that Atari has declined to appear and has suggested a
rescheduling. It would be the first WOA show to occur without Atari
providing all of the advertising, equipment needs, and personnel
support, without cost to the commercial show series.
ATARI TO BE BIG AT MILWAUKEE GENCON
Over 50 Atari ST computer systems and likely as many LYNX game machines
will be supplied to the Milwaukee GENCON gaming show this August 9th-
12th. The show has traditionally drawn over 10,000 people, many of them
costumed and prepared for participation in fantasy role-playing games
including Dungeons and Dragons games. The local Atari user group,
MILATARI, will have a booth at the show, which permits retail sales of
gaming hardware and software. Atari will send a group of
representatives to staff the Atari area, and expects GENCON to be a
major opportunity to not only show but to actually sell a significant
number of machines.
GAUNTLET III SAYS NO TO DRUGS
The latest of releases for the Atari LYNX game machine is GAUNTLET III,
and the lucky few that already have it tell Z*NET that the game is every
bit as good as they had hoped. A surprise on the package (a product of
TENGEN, a division of Atari Games) is the Seal of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and a quote under the name of William S. Sessions, FBI
Director: "Winners don't use Drugs". One hopes that the suggestion,
delivered in this manner to competitive young gamers, may find a
receptive audience.
PCDII FIX
This letter was sent to John Nagy from a reader of his COMPUTER SHOPPER
MAGAZINE "Atari News and Comment" column. It is presented here by
permission.
Dear Avant-Garde Systems:
Two months ago I purchased P.C. Ditto II by mail order. Upon receiving
your product and installing it in my 1040 ST I could not get it to work.
I returned the board. It seemed to heat up and not work. With the
replacement board I had the same problem. After soldering the leads to
the 68000 chip (which I highly recommend) I still had the same problem.
Upon checking the voltages of my power supply they were in tolerance.
On the PC Ditto board and on the 68000 chip they were low. Without the
board hooked up the 68000 chip voltage was normal. I took two leads
from the big filter cap. underneath the keyboard and connected them to
the 20 and 40 pin of the math coprocesser socket. The problem was
solved, there is 200 hours on the board and it works great. I think you
should have power leads on future boards therefore it would fix a
problem on an otherwise very good product. I also recommend using a
small wide screwdriver to carefully bend the resistors down to reach all
the pins on the 68000 chip. Please keep me in mind when future updates
come out.
Thank you,
Mark Barrouk
Wilkes Barre Pa.
ATARI TO FINALIZE MIDITASKING AT NAMM
This weekend is the Summer NATIONAL MUSIC MERCHANDISERS SHOW (NAMM),
held in Chicago, Illinois. Atari will be there with a major presence
once again. The Atari ST with its MIDI ports, and particularly with the
STACY portable, has stayed a favorite machine for many musicians. On
hand for this show will be Frank Foster (back from touring with
FLEETWOOD MAC in support of Atari), Bill Crouch, Bob Brodie, MIDI reps
Mike Groh and John Morales, and others. Another MIDI developer meeting
is scheduled, and the final input is to be received on the ATARI
MIDITASKING system, under development by INTELLIGENT MUSIC of New York.
The project is virtually completed and is hoped to be ready for
commercial release this summer. Atari representatives have been careful
to say that although the MIDITASKING system is indeed a multi-tasking
operating system for all Atari ST computers, it is optimized and
intended for use with MIDI applications. Although other programs are
likely to work properly under the MIDITASKING system, this is to be seen
as a fortuitous occurrence rather than by design. MIDITASKING will be
sold through Atari Corp for a mere $12.95.
NEODESK 3 TO BE SHOWN TO USERS IN BOSTON
Atari Corp's Bob Brodie will be missing Father's Day with his family
this weekend in order to appear at a dealer promotion in Boston this
weekend before he continues on to NAMM. Bob will be part of the
festivities at the BIT BUCKET, a Boston dealer, while GRIBNIF SOFTWARE
displays their new NEODESK VERSION 3.0 for the first time in public.
Rick Flashman of Gribnif told Z*NET that it has been far more of a major
product than they expected, with some major additions coming late in the
project. Version 3 of the popular desktop replacement system will
include significant upgrades in window handling that will enable the use
of icons in some windows and text in others simultaneously. Split
windows, folders on the Desktop, and much, much more will be also
included. "We figured that if we put everything in it this time, people
would not be able to ask for more", says Rick. He says that a vacation
will be welcome when the final touches of NEODESK 3.0 are at last put on
the commercial release, due very soon. GRIBNIF is also relocating to a
new facility that will more than double their working area.
NEW MANAGEMENT AT ATARI CORP UNITES USA, CANADA, FRANCE
A longtime friend of the Tramiel family and the former President
Director General of ATARI FRANCE, ELIE KENAN has come to the US to take
the new position of GENERAL MANAGER, NORTH AMERICA at Atari Corporation.
Many internal management adjustments are being made by existing Vice
Presidents and such. Plans for Mr. Kenan to continue to manage ATARI
FRANCE along with Canada and the USA are still in flux. Kenan is at
Sunnyvale now, talking to staff and making plans.
ATARI ADVANTAGE ON HOLD
Despite posters proclaiming the ATARI ADVANTAGE at the Consumer
Electronics Show earlier this month, the namesake of that promotion was
not shown. The "Advantage" system is a 520STFM, bundled with a LOT of
software, and retailing at under $400. It has been promised for many
months, but just short of the CES appearance, CEO Sam Tramiel ordered
the package back into the planning phase. It is said that Sam wants the
productivity software dropped from the plan, stating that GAMES were
what made the C64 the most popular inexpensive computer in the world,
and that GAMES would do it again for the ADVANTAGE system. Meanwhile,
Sam's Father and chairman of the Board, Jack Tramiel, wants the
productivity applications (word processor, database, spreadsheet)
included... and in fact wants the price to be under $300! Those who
have seen the currently proposed selection of software (with good
joysticks and all) say that it is a "can't miss" mixture of powerful
applications and superior games. Perhaps things will be worked out at
the Tramiel home this Father's day?
TOS 2.0 FOR THE '030?? NOPE
Atari officials deny that the TOS operating system planned for the TT
68030 computer will be significantly changed from that in the current
display machines when it finally reaches market. Expected to debut
commercially later this year, the TT will have either exactly the same
TOS or so close to it as to not be an issue, according to several Atari
contacts. In an article released on the major telecommunication
services earlier this month, Darek Mihocka, a programmer and owner of
BRANCH ALWAYS SOFTWARE, related what he was told at the Canadian premier
of the TT. Among other comments, Darek said that representatives there
said that the TOS in the demo TT was "much slower" than the "final"
version, to be called TOS 2.0, that would be in the production machines.
This appears to be misinformation from enthusiastic area
representatives. The TOS for the TT is commonly called "TOS
OH-THREE-OH" at Atari. Final development of the TT is virtually
complete, although there remain enough problems of compatibility with
1.44 MB floppy disk drives that Atari is considering releasing at least
the first production units with the older 720K drives.
FIRST STOP COMPUTERS MOVING - (Press Release)
If you haven't been able to reach 1st STOP Computers for the past couple
of days, don't be dismayed. We're only moving. We will be back in
business Monday, the 18th of this month (June 1990) at 9:00 a.m. EDT.
We will be back in full swing under totally new management next week,
so please give us a call. Our toll-free number is still 1-800-252-2787,
for all 50 states. Our new info/tech number is 1-513-254-6423. Our
hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST Monday thru Friday and 10:00am.
to 6:00 pm on Saturday. Our main business, for those of you who may not
know us yet, is supporting Atari ST owners. We handle the software and
peripherals at the best possible prices with the best possible service.
We also accept Master Card, Visa, and Discover Card purchases at no
extra cost. Look for our ads in STart, ST Informer, Current Notes, and
other popular Atari publications. A new part of our business is the
production and sales of PC clones. When we realized that such a large
portion of ST owners were also owners of PCs, we figured that this would
be a natural direction for 1st STOP. We are also now handling the most
popular lines of PC software for use with our PCs as well as with PC
Ditto II, PC Speed, and SuperCharger ST (which we also handle). We
thank you for bearing with us during the move. If you've never called
us, give us a try. If you have called us in the past, thanks for your
business... we think you'll be pleased with the changes. Steven
Schoemann, Bruce Hansford, Doug Hodson, Ken Lare. Dayton, Ohio
FORECASTER III - (Press Release)
Florissant, Missouri - June 10, 1990 Randall Kopchak announces that
"Forecaster III" is now available for the Atari ST and Mega series.
"Forecaster III" will predict the weather, analyze current atmospheric
conditions, and display a weather almanac for the day. Heating and
cooling degree days can be calculated along with windchill factor and
apparent temperature. "Forecaster III" will display weather graphics
from Compuserve and other sources. It will also create weather radar
maps similar to those on your local news from digitized radar data
available from WeatherBank and other services. Bonus templates are
included with "Forecaster III" to track and chart daily weather records
using most of the popular spreadsheet programs on the Atari ST.
"Forecaster III" runs on either color or monochrome systems with a
minimum of 512 K of memory. "Forecaster III" is available for $25.00
postpaid from Randall Kopchak, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant, MO 63031.
For more information: Voice: (314) 831-9482 before 10:00 p.m. EST.
E-Mail: Compuserve 70357,2312 - GEnie GREG - Delphi GREG
AUTOSWITCH OVERSCAN - (Press Release)
Stefan Hartmann, Keplerstr. 11 B, D-1000 Berlin 10, West-Germany,
Tel.: ++49 30 3442366. FAX : ++49 30 3122639. We have still further
developed the OVERSCAN-modification to our new product: AutoSwitch-
OverScan. It features now full support of the Blitter(1.2)- and the new
1.4 TOS and is a little hardware circuit board with 2 GALs on it, that
increases the screen resolutions of the STs to:
Monochrome Mode: 688*480 pixel (on the old SM124)
704*480 pixel (on the newer SM124)
752*480 pixel (NEC Multisync GS)
720-736*480 pixel (most of the other Multisyncs)
768*480 pixel on a special modified SM124.
(Modification board soon available)
all the modes run with 71 Hz image frequency
Color Modes: 60 Hz: 416*240 pixel (still 16 colors per pixel)
832*240 pixel (still 4 colors per pixel)
(We have now also included the 60 Hz Color modes for our friends in the
US, so they can record their animations on their NTSC VCRs !!!)
50 Hz: 416*280 pixel (still 16 colors per pixel)
832*280 pixel (still 4 colors per pixel)
The color modes are ideal for OverScan-Animations to record on VCR-Tape!
You get pixels all over the TV-set-screen! The hardware is supported
with a 30 KBytes assembler code program which starts itself out of the
AUTO-folder and patches the TOS and GEM to the new resolutions. This
software, now after one and a half year of development-time, makes sure,
that ALL ST-programs run !!! The AutoSwitch-feature decreases the
resolution to the normal resolution e.g. of 640*400 pixel if a program
does not yet support BigScreen Application (like STAD or SIGNUM or CAD3D
for example). So if You double click STAD from the extended desktop
resolution, zack, the ST switches back to normal mode, You can paint
Your picture, You quit STAD, zack, You are back on the 704*480 pixel
desktop; all without resetting or rebooting Your ST!!! No more hazzle
with a mechanical switch! The switching is done with the free pin of
the keyboard ACIA 6850, pin 5 RTS-Output: poke the adress FFFC00,$D6
switches Overscan on, FFFC00,$96 switches Overscan off. We have new
XBios-functions which support the Overscan resolution and make
programming under AutoSwitch-OverScan very easy! AutoSwitch-OverScan is
delivered complete with the hardware board, a 50 page manual and the
software on disk. The hardware board (size:2*2 inches) has to be
soldered with 10 cables inside Your ST. AutoSwitch-OverScan runs on all
STs, except the new 1040 STE, which has a noncompatible graphics chip
set !!! ( So don't buy a 1040 STE, if You decide to use AutoSwitch-
OverScan !) AutoSwitch-OverScan will be available for US and UK
citiziens at the end of June 1990 for about 90 US$ or 50 english pounds.
(including airmail express delivery) In Germany it is already available
for 120 DM. We are still looking for US and UK distributors! For more
information on AutoSwitch-OverScan call: ++49 30 3442366
West-Berlin, the 3th June 1990 Sincerely, Stefan Hartmann.
PC WORLD UPDATE
PC World, a magazine for management PC users, announced it has acquired
PC Resource magazine and will merge its circulation into PC World
beginning with its October 1990 issue. PC World will increase its
circulation rate base from 500,000 to 550,000. PC Resource will publish
its last issue in August.
NEW YORK TIMES ANNOUNCES CHANGES
Flora Lewis will retire as the foreign affairs columnist of The New York
Times on Dec. 31 and become the newspaper's senior columnist. She will
be succeeded as the foreign affairs columnist by Leslie H. Gelb, the
deputy editorial page editor and Op-Ed page editor.
MINISCRIBE UPDATE
MiniScribe announced that the closing of the sale of substantially all
its assets to Maxtor Corp. will occur on June 30, 1990. After the
closing Maxtor, which has been operating the company since the
Bankruptcy Court sale on April 4, 1990, will conduct MiniScribe's
business through Maxtor Colorado Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary.
NEW ALL CHARGE 386 MEMORY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
All Computers announced new memory management software for 80386-,
80386SX-, and 80486-based computers that boasts the highest throughput
of any LIM 4.0 software manager. New All Charge 386 is available for
$99. All Charge 386 supports XMS, LIM 3.2 and LIM 4.0. The memory
management software also handles exploding and imploding device drivers
by rear-ranging high memory to accommodate them. All Computer Inc.
(416) 960-0111
NAKED CORRECTIONS OFFICER
A prison guard wearing only briefs and bloodied from a self-inflicted
chest wound, stole a police car Friday then led police on a high-speed
chase through Dutchess County. The police car burst into flames after
the man slammed it into a car wash and was arrested by officers who had
followed him on the chase. There were no injuries. The incident began
when police in Poughkeepsie, located about 60 miles north of New York
City, received a call about 2 p.m. "of a large naked white male" found
collapsed in a field. Officers found the man bleeding profusely from
an apparently self-inflicted knife wound to the chest. As officers
attempted to administer first aid, the man attacked and overpowered one
of the officers and stole his car. The corrections officer at the
Dutchess County Jail, headed north in the cruiser with police close at
his heels. The chase ended at Pete's Mobil gas station and car wash,
but not before Tobin hit two parked cars and struck the car wash
building. The vehicle burst into flames as Tobin was being subdued by
two officers. Tobin underwent surgery for his wound at Vassar Brothers
Hospital. Police said he will be charged with reckless endangerment,
grand larceny, felony criminal mischief and numerous vehicle and traffic
violations. In Tobin's home police found a large amount of blood and a
large bloody kitchen knife that Tobin apparently used to stab himself.
TAPCIS AUTHOR DIES
Howard Benner, author of the popular TapCIS communications program, died
last Friday from complications of malignant melanoma, which he had been
battling for some time. The 44-year-old, credited with developing the
field of automated communications programs in the early 1980s, will be
buried in Westfield, Mass., this week at a private service.
MICROSOFT AND EVEREX SUE
A counterfeiting ring alleged to have introduced more than 30,000 copies
of Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system into the US market has been
broken up by authorities working with Microsoft and computer maker
Everex Systems. Seizure orders filed in conjunction with the suits were
issued in April last Friday the US Marshal's office helped in the raids,
which netted business records and more than 1,000 copies of the
counterfeited software. An additional 2,000 copies were surrendered by
four defendants in response to an order issued by a federal judge.
The defendants in the case are J&S International, JIP Design and Joe
Fok, American MultiSource Inc, Manufacturing Service Inc., Benny Lee and
Norman and Susan Chan, Micro-Generation, Micro-Generation corporate
officers Thomas Wu, Michael Wu and Frank Ho; and Asia Source Inc.
corporate officers, Tai Yen Chu, Robert Young and Christi Liang.
RADIATION EMISSIONS
Apple Computer Chairman John Sculley says the company hired outside
experts to study radiation emissions from its monitors. So far,they
have found no health hazard. CNN had broadcast a report based on the
July cover story in Macworld which termed as "worrisome" results in
recent tests of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic emissions from
monitors used with the Macintosh. Macworld based its report on tests of
10 monitors regularly used with the Mac.
LOTUS UNIX 1-2-3
Lotus unveiled a version of 1-2-3 for personal computers running Unix
System V Release 3.2. The Single-user Edition of 1-2-3 for Unix System
V has a suggested retail price of $695. The Multi-user Edition costs
$1295. Additional-user Editions retail for $495.
MODEM USERS ASSOCIATION
Modem User's Association of America (MUAA) is a new non-profit
organization that plans to lobby against telephone companies when they
propose rates that impact telecommunication users. MUAA would act as a
central clearing house for information of interest to BBS users and
operators, link local and regional modem user groups into a nationwide
network, and unify all modem users and the services and systems they
use. It would also establish a lobbying effort in Washington to push
for legislation favorable to modem users and would fight, state-by-
state, against outrageous rate increases and demands from telephone
companies and others. Additional information about MUAA is available by
calling (913) 478-9239.
===============================
WHY ATARI SHOULDN'T ADVERTISE
===============================
by John Nagy
This feature is a reprint from the April/May ST-JOURNAL MAGAZINE,
presented here by permission. THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE REPRINTED IN ANY
OTHER PUBLICATION OR NEWSLETTER WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM ST-
JOURNAL, 113 West College Street, Covina, CA 91723, 818-332-0372.
Individual copies of the first issue of ST JOURNAL are available from
the above address for the cover price of $4.50, and subscriptions are
$29.95 a year.
Welcome to my first column for ST JOURNAL. When I was asked to be a
part of this effort to bring a new quality magazine to the Atari public,
I was also encouraged to use my column as an outlet for my opinions and
viewpoint. Most of my other writing (for COMPUTER SHOPPER, ZMAG/Z*NET,
START, ST WORLD, ST-INFORMER, and others) has been largely news
reporting or reviews. Until now, my only full blown (cough!) editorial
work has been as part of the newsletter I produced for CHAOS, my old
user group in Lansing, Michigan, for whom I began MICHIGAN ATARI
MAGAZINE and GREAT LAKES ATARI DIGEST. While my views often pepper my
reporting, I thank ST JOURNAL for the chance to take a thought and just
fly with it. And I thank the readers in advance for their participation
in the flight.
My headline ought to catch some attention... after all, most every Atari
lover on the planet thinks Atari is missing the boat by not advertising.
After all, advertising is the essence of being American! To suggest
that Atari should NOT advertise is to invite argument, if not heavy
projectiles, from every corner.
Yet, I believe that a massive advertising campaign would be disastrous
for Atari at this time. There are too many other things that need to be
in place first.
Lets look at what happened recently to our competition. Commodore
Business Machines has probably has as much pressure from its Amiga
supporters to do major advertising as Atari. Consumer testing showed
that "Amiga" was less likely to be identified by random folks as a
"computer" than were several bogus brand names, invented for the sake of
the testing. Last fall and winter, Commodore decided to reverse that.
A major national TV advertising campaign was launched featuring big name
personalities and state-of-the-art overproduction. The whole world saw
a house get levitated, the Pointer Sisters and Tip O'Neil drop over, and
more. In all, it all cost enough that Commodore-watchers said that it
would take a 38% increase in Amiga sales just to pay for the ads.
Surprise, sales have gone up closer to 10%. But rest assured, the Amiga
does lots better in name recognition today. People now know what
they're not buying. And Commodore is worse off than before it started.
Now, sure, many of us think the ads were terrible. I heard that Atari
was pitched the EXACT same ad campaign about a year earlier, and they
turned it down. No matter what you put on TV, most of us know for a
fact that the computer won't lift houses. And the folks that come over
to see a computer are more likely to have a pocket protector full of
mechanical pencils and tape on the bridge of their glasses than they are
to be stars, politicos, or sports heroes. The poor Amiga played a minor
background role in the commercials.
Actually, I proposed a counter campaign. Imagine a white screen with a
voice over: "The house has landed. The rock stars have gone home.
(Fade in on a fella alone with a computer) It's just you and your
computer. Did you choose the right one?" You get the idea, but I
digress.
If Atari were to advertise now, even if the ads were GOOD, what would
happen? Rise in interest in the machines. Search for dealers by the
most interested. Frustration in not finding any or at least not enough.
More frustration in finding that dealers have no stock of many key
items. Final frustration in finding that stock shortages have been the
rule for years, with no real reason to expect it to change in the
immediate future. Abandonment of interest in the Atari. Again, people
would have a much firmer grip on the matter of which product they were
not buying.
As I understand it, advertising is used to create a demand for a product
you wish to supply. Atari clearly can't meet the demand that already
exists for their products, let alone a demand for more. If you don't
have the product or can't get it to where the demand is, you had best
not be tweaking up the demand.
But won't Atari go under if they don't sell more machines, and don't
they need more exposure to sell machines? No, and No.
From where I sit, it looks like Atari is a money making venture for the
Tramiels. Maybe even good money. I think that they see it as a real
tossup as to whether it is worth the effort to get their manufacturing,
warehousing, distribution, etc. into a condition where an ad push would
be workable. If a multi-million dollar monumental effort can as easily
net a loss as a gain, is it worth while to tamper with a gentle success?
Taken as an international product, Atari is doing well for a small
company. But somehow, and for some reason, we "believers" think that is
insufficient. EVERYBODY ought to recognize the power and value of our
chosen machines, and everyone ought to have one. And we tend to feel
that Atari is missing its shot to be a major player in the USA computer
marketplace. Meanwhile, the "best kept secret" of the computer world
keeps chugging away.
If this thing were a toaster, or maybe a burger, we wouldn't likely be
as wrapped up in the emotional issue of wanting it to be such a
widespread success. But for many of us, the Atari computer is far more
than a machine... it is a cause. And somehow, we think that the current
owners of our cause are wrong to withhold it from the rest of the
huddled masses. Irrational.
I'd really like to see Atari do better with its dealers. And better
with manufacturing and distribution. And still better with timely
release of new products. Developers would like to see it too, and have
much more a stake in Atari's success than we users (and writers). But
improvements of significant scale must occur in these channels before
there would be any point in a major advertising push. For the moment,
it looks like Atari is addressing these channels. Time will tell. But
remember, Atari has been around for over 10 years now, and really shows
no sign of folding its tents, despite a low profile.
In the meantime, I personally would prefer to see Atari chug along a
slow but profitable course than to see it roaring towards financial
ruin. Wouldn't you?
===============================
KX-P1124 UPGRADE
===============================
by William Whitton
Panasonic has become known of late as a supplier of quality printers for
the computer enthusiast. Performance, price and compatibility have
served to make this entire line of equipment some of the most sought
after computer peripherals in America.
One fairly recent addition to the Panasonic line of printers is the
KX-P1124, an excellent 24 pin printer that I've seen selling for as low
as $249 in numerous locations. This printer has only one relatively
small short-coming to mention, it only sports a buffer of 6k, far too
small for most serious users needs in general. What we will describe in
this short article is a way to easily increase the 6k built-in buffer to
one that is a wolloping 32k! Panasonic sells this 32K upgrade chip for
$60, yet we will show you how you can do it yourself for the paltry sum
of about $12!
You will first need to purchase a 32Kx8 Low Power CMOS static ram IC,
120 nanoseconds or better to upgrade the 6k chip that currently resides
in your printer. One suitable chip is the Hitachi 62256LP-12 which can
be purchased from Microprocessors Unlimited, located in Beggs, Oklahoma.
Their phone number is (918-267-4961), and the last time I checked they
were selling this very chip for $9.95 each, plus shipping, bringing the
total cost to approximately $12.
Let us proceed:
1. On the front of the printer you will find what we will for now call
the "single page feed panel". Open this panel, and then GENTLY pry
the front faceplate off the printer by inserting a flat headed
screwdriver in the narrow vertical seam that is located about one
half inch behind front faceplate with the KX-P1124 logo on it.
Carefully unplug the ribbon cable that is connected to the front
control panel.
2. After removing the faceplate, you'll find 3 brass Phillips head
screws that are holding on the top cover, remove these. The top
will now swing upward from the the front and will move "rear-ward"
as if there was a hinge on the hind quarters.
3. Glancing down at the back of the printer, you will see two
indentical chips currently in place, with another empty socket
located directly to the left. That is where the 32k ram chip is to
be installed. Place the chip in the socket ensuring that the dimple
on the chip faces the rear.
4. Now reassemble the printer in exactly the reverse order. Easy eh?
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ONLINE MAGAZINE COMMENTARY
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Another week has gone by, and after reading the gloom, doom, and despair
of STReport, I find myself wondering why I ever purchased an Atari
Computer. It usually takes a lot for me to get vocal, but I feel
compelled to speak out now. I have owned an Atari ever since the 1200XL
came out. Even though the system was an 8bit, I really enjoyed it.
That 8bit was my introduction into computing and it sold me on
computers.
Then in 1985, the ST's came into being. My mouth "drooled" at the
thought of having so much power for a reasonable price. I jumped on the
ST bandwagon and purchased a 520ST without ROMS and two DS disk drives.
The only software for the machine was Logo, and a few programs from
Haba Software. I remember the first time I turned on the machine... I
could not keep my mouth shut. You know how your mouth forms an "O" when
you get surprised, well mine stayed that way for at least a week. I
just could not get over how easy the machine was to operate.
Later I purchased the ROMS when they became available and almost every
piece of software that was released....even Haba "C". Can anyone
remember that program? By this time, the 1040ST was out and I ended up
swapping up to it. I now had a whole Meg of RAM and a built in drive.
Good new's and praise for the machine was all I ever read. Even Byte
magazine covered the Atari in several of their issues. Atari appeared
to have a very bright future. As time went on, and software became
plentiful, I kept upgrading. I now have 2.5megs in my 1040, a Spectre
GCR, color & mono monitors, HP LaserJet IIP, FaST 85meg HD, Cardinal
2400baud modem with MNP level 5, and lot's of software. There are some
very talented people producing GREAT Hardware Hacks and Software Hacks
for the Atari, and I support their efforts by purchasing their products.
This brings me up to now. Week after week I kept reading about Atari's
demise in STReport and a few other online mag's, and week after week I
began to wonder if I should sell my machine and go IBM or Mac. Well, to
STReport and any other magazine that wishes to publish nothing but doom
for the Atari, I say NO! What I am going to do is stop READING your
magazine. There are so many good things the Atari computers can do that
all of the articles in these mags could easily focus on Productivity
instead of Destructivity. (Not sure if that's a word or not but it
fits). I have to agree with the magazine that Atari is rolling downhill
pretty fast, but giving it a push over the edge is not the answer.
Focusing on positive aspects of the computer and getting the most bang
for the buck is still the way to win friends and influence people. The
Spectre GCR and Turbo16 are about the best hardware hacks I have seen
and I am putting back a little money each week so I can get the T16
installed. Being able to run Mac software out of the box is a REAL
THRILL and it brings back some of the enthusiasm I felt when I first
purchased my ST.
I know of at least 10 people who have purchased Atari Computers because
of me showing off it's capabilities. Just one look at what all these
fantastic machines can do, and almost everyone wants one. The biggest
hurdle for Atari has always been in Advertising and Letting people know
about their machine. Well, Atari does not appear to be interested in
this, and they just might sink because of it, but a magazine that
preaches Atari's demise week after week only speeds up this process.
Come On Guys! Let's pull together and focus on what the machine can do!
I for one am very tired of the BASHING! Every computer has it's
problems, and Atari has it's share. Well, enough of this. I just felt
I had to express my opinion. I wish only the BEST for anyone supporting
the Atari Computers, and I have started writing to Software Publishers
and letting them know I appreciate their efforts toward Atari Software.
One Guy's Opinion!
Ross Greger (B.GREGER >>> GENIE Address)
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REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS
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PART 28 - "GOOD LUCK, AARON"
by Donald A. Thomas, Jr.
(c)1990 ARTISAN SOFTWARE
(This is PART 28 of a series of articles published and distributed by
Artisan Software. Please feel free to copy and distribute this article
as you please provided you include all unedited text. Also feel free to
upload to boards and communication services. These articles are
designed to entice you to take constructive action. Write to involved
parties and tell them how YOU feel about the subject.)
We, the dedicated Atari user, have seen many a supporting business
entity come and go. One such institution has been the publishing
industry. Notwithstanding any internal operations problems, ST X-PRESS,
RESET, ANALOG and ST APPLICATIONS are among the fine magazines we will
continue to miss as they helped fill our ongoing desire to learn more
about our powerful systems.
Yet, amid the consequential void, evolves new opportunities for aspiring
entrepreneurs. ST JOURNAL has been introduced as a promising news
source and others have been rumored to be available soon. Most
recently, key Atari figures have heard from a young new voice out East.
Aaron Smith, of Trenton, New Jersey is anxious to debut a new
publication he plans to call ATARISOURCE. He names CURRENT NOTES as a
prototype of what he hopes to produce. The initial 16-page bi-monthly
issue is scheduled to be released in July or August and will focus on
issues such as telecommunications, flight simulation and software
reviews. He hopes to cover a wide variety of topics, some old, some
new, but all with a refreshingly new approach that he and his
contributors plan to offer.
I had an opportunity to speak with Aaron just prior to the CES show in
Chicago and was impressed with the energy in his voice. At merely 17
years of age, Aaron comes across as vividly professional with an
undeniable dedication to his project. ATARISOURCE will invest one third
editorial to 8-bit and two thirds editorial to 16-bit users. Annual
subscriptions for 6 issues is only $12. He indicates that the editorial
for the first issue is already well planned and is wrapping up a call
for subscriptions and advertising support now.
As with any new publication, there exist a risk to new subscribers that
the first issue will never materialize, but Aaron is convinced that it
will and he has convinced me of that as well. He has shared some of his
short term goals and, as ambitious as they are, they appear to be sound
and a good working strategy. His long term objectives sound realistic
and achievable.
Reviewing the media kit I requested, it appears that the magazine will
be supported by three BBS's. UNI-SYS can be reached by dialing (215)
281-0243, ALIEN ST can be reached by dialing (609) 882-6826 and DEADBEAT
BBS can be reached by dialing (609) 853-8084. Information about
ATARISOURCE can be obtained on these boards. It appears that nearly
twenty people and staffing and contributing to ATARISOURCE and I know
other contributors are being solicited.
If you wish to consider advertising in Aaron's ATARISOURCE or if you
wish to support his hard endeavors by subscribing, call (609) 584-8447
or write:
ATARISOURCE MAGAZINE
c/o MAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY
112 Park Lane
Trenton, New Jersey 08609
I am impressed enough with Aaron's start-up efforts that I will be
sending a paid subscription form in to him along with a copy of this
article. I encourage you to consider supporting him. Us writers and
publishers know how critical a base is to get a project as this off the
ground.
GOOD LUCK, AARON! WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE SUPPORTIN' OUR SYSTEMS!
For information on how you can "JOIN THE REVOLUTION" and actively
support the exposure of Atari computers, send $6.00 to ARTISAN SOFTWARE,
P.O. Box 849, Manteca, California 95336. An ST/MEGA compatible
disk-based HANDBOOK will be rushed to you by return mail. The HANDBOOK
is also available from ST INFORMER, CURRENT NOTES, MEGABYTE COMPUTERS
(Hurst, Texas), COMPUTER STUDIO (Asheville, North Carolina) and as a
download from COMPUSERVE, GENIE and DELPHI.
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Z*Net Online Magazine is a weekly released publication covering the
Atari community. Opinions and commentary presented are those of the
individual authors and do not reflect those of Rovac Industries. Z*NET
and Z*NET ONLINE are copyright 1990 by Rovac Industries. Reprint
permission is granted as long as Z*NET ONLINE, Issue Number and author
is included at the top of the article. Reprinted articles are not to be
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ZNET ONLINE Atari News FIRST!
Copyright (c)1990 Rovac Industries, Inc..
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